Cow washing device



Oct. 29, 1963 T. ALBERS 3,103,574

cow WASHING DEVICE Filed se t. 19. 1960 2 Sheets -Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ZEU V/S ALBERS BY ATTO RN EYS Oct. 29, 1963- T. ALBERS cow WASHING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1960 INVENTOR. IIe'u/v/sALBEes FZ/L W/DER MDTT/NGLY 54 1/0745) ATTORNE United States Patent Tee 3,108,574 COW WASHING DEVICE Tennis Albers, 21205 Norwalk Blvd, Artesia, Calif. Filed Sept. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 56,840 4 Claims. (Cl. 119-159) This invention relates generally to cow washing devices and particularly to a new and novel cow washing device actuated by the physical movement of the cow.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a surrounding tubular water jet spray device and controlling valve mechanism therefor that is actuated by the physical movement of the cow.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of valve control mechanism for the spray device that opens the valve substantially immediately upon initial physical impact of the cow and is then permitted further movement without affecting the valve operation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide valve control mechanism for the water spray that is operated by physical impact of the cows body.

Still another object of the invention is to provide valve control mechanism for the cow Washing spray that is actuated by the stepping of the cow upon a movable platform.

A further object of the invention is to provide a surrounding tubular multiple jet water spray device having means for guiding the cow against a valve control arm that moves initially to open the valve and then moves further under physical impact without affecting valve operation.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of a slip friction valve control mechanism for the water spray that returns automatically to closed position as the cow walks through the spray.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a cow washing device that constitutes a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view in enlarged scale of said device disclosed in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view in enlarged scale taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a detail in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of a modification of the spray device and physically controlled valve mechanism therefor;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the device of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of an alternate type of valve control mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURES 1 through 4.

The cow washing device of the present invention provides for initiation of a multiple jet water spray against and upon the cow as she passes through the device and physically, either by body or feet, actuates the water control valve.

The preferred form of spray device comprises tubular water spray elements on either side of the cow and above. On the valve side of the cow a main Water pipe 10 is connected to the main water supply. A water control valve 12 of conventional construction is located in the pipe 10. A horizontally disposed pipe or tube 14 coupled at 16 to the main supply pipe 10 has three depend- 3,108,574 Patented Oct. 29, 1963 2 ing legs 18, 20 and 22. An elbow 24 connects the pipe 14 to the leg 18. A four way coupling 26 connects the shorter leg 20 to the pipe 14. An elbow 28 connects the leg 22 to the pipe 14. An elbow 30 forms a foot for the leg or tube 18 and connects a lower inwardly projecting water jet or spray 32 thereto. A similar elbow 34 connects a spray nozzle or jet 36 to the short leg 20. A third elbow 38 also forms a foot for the leg 22 and connects a differently directed spray nozzle 40 thereto.

A spray nozzle 42 is coupled at 44 to the pipe 14. A water jet or nozzle 46 is coupled at 48 to the other end of the pipe 14. A vertical pipe 40 rises from the four way coupling 26 and is connected at 52 to an overhead pipe 54 which in turn is connected at 56 to another similar vertical pipe 50' connected at its lower end to another four way coupling 26'. The three legged piping and spray nozzle structure on the opposite side of the device is identical with the structure heretofore described. For this reason identical parts have been given the same primed numerals to save repetition of description. One element has been added to the opposite tubular structure in that guide rail 58 is connected at 60 to leg 22 and at 62 to leg 18'. The guide rail 58 obviously forces the cow into physical contact with the valve control mechanism generally referred to as C.

A flat bar 60 is wrapped at 62 for pivotal movement on the leg 20. The bar 60 slants inwardly in the path of the cow as she walks through the device in the direction of the arrow. The bar 60 is then bent sharply at 63 toward the leg 18. The outer end of the bar 60 is then cupped at 64 to engage and partially surround the leg 18. The arm structure described controls the degree of inner movement of the bar 60 into the path of the cow guided thereagainst by the rail 58. The conventional water control valve 12 is actuated by a lever 66 spring connected thereto at 63 in a manner to normally hold the valve closed and to return the valve to a closed position. On the outer end of the lever 66, a stub shaft 70 is pivotally connected thereto by means of the dual washers 72 and 74 and the threaded nut 76. The upper end of the stub shaft 70 is enlarged and bored at 78 in a manner to slidably receive the outer end of a rod 80 pivotally connected at 82 to the arm or bar 60. A coil spring 84 sur rounds the rod 80 between the bar 60 and the enlarged bore 78 in stub shaft 70. The valve control mechanism normally assumes the full line position shown in FIG- URE 3. This is the closed position for the water control valve 12. c

When physically impacted by the cow, the arm 60, rod 80 and valve control lever 66 will move to the phantom line position of FIGURE 3. The spring suspension of the bar 60, rod 80 and lever 66 operates to substantially immediately move the lever 66 to open position against the spring 68 when the cow physically impacts the arm 60. Further inner movement of the bar 60 induced by the belly of the cow will not further affect valve operation, but merely slip the rod 80 through the bore 78 under increased compression of the coil spring 84. In this manner the rod 80, spring 84 and lever 66 cooperate to provide a lost motion means for the bar 60 permitting continued travel of the bar after the valve 12 has been opened. When the cow is drenched and cleansed by the water blast from the spray nozzles and passes through the device, the spring 68 automatically returns the lever 66 to closed position to shut off the valve mechanism 12. The bar 60, rod 80 and coil spring are automatically returned to inactive valve closed position. The valve control mechanism is in effect a slip friction device to take up the great physical impact of the heavy cow and still operate the Water control valve in a simple and easy manner.

In FIGURES 5 and 6, a modification of the spray 3 device and valve control mechanism is disclosed. In this form, the spray device and valve mechanism is actuated by a platform upon which the cow steps as she passes through the device. The spray device of FIG- URES 5 and 6 comprises vertical spaced water pipes 86 and 88 having an overhead cross member 90 connected thereto by means of the elbows 92 and 94. A plurality of spray jets or nozzles direct the water blast at the usual filth-encrusted parts of the cow as she passes therethrough. A water inlet pipe 96 has a conventional valve 98 connected thereto in the usual manner. The floor beneath the spray device is excavated in the shallow manner designated 100. However, the platform need not cover an excavation, but be either suspended from or substantially flush with the floor. A platform 102 covers the excavation and is mounted therein in a tensioned manner by means of the plural coil springs 104. A plurality of stops 106 limit the downward movement of the platform 102. The platform 102 is connected to the valve 98 by means of a rod 104 attached to the platform 102 at 106. The rod 104 is pivotally connected at 108 with a crank arm 110, the outer end 112 thereof sliding through a bore in the outer end of a conventional valve lever 114 controlling the conventional water control valve 98. A spring 116 forces the lever 114 to a closed position in the manner heretofore described. The crank arm 110 is pivoted at 118 to the pipe 86. A coil spring 118 on the outer end 112 of the crank arm 110 substantially immediately actuates the lever 114 when the cow steps on the platform 102. Once the valve 98 is opened the outer crank arm 112 continues to slip through the bore in the lever 114 under increased pressure of the coil spring 118 without further affecting valve operation. The spring 116 returns the lever 114 and valve control mechanism to valve closed position just as soon as the cow steps off the platform 102.

The tubular water spray above described may have one or more extensions 120 similar in design and connected by a pipe 121. Multiple water nozzles or spray jets 122 are secured in the cow surrounding tubular pipes.

An alternate type of valve control mechanism is shown in FIGURE 7. A microswitch 124 is disposed in the path of the platform 102 as it is lowered by the weight of the cow. The switch 124 is electrically connected at 126 to a conventional type of solenoid controlled water valve mechanism 128.

The operation of the microswitch and solenoid controlled valve mechanism is simple. The cow steps on the platform 102 which lowers upon the microswitch 124. The solenoid controlled valve mechanism is electrically operated to open the main water valve and energize the spray nozzles.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely diiferent embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A cow washing device, comprising: a frame including horizontal and vertical pipe elements in spaced relation and connected by an overhead tube; multiple spray nozzles in said pipe elements directed at various parts of a cow passing therethrough; a main water inlet pipe connected to said frame; a valve in said inlet pipe; a bar normally extending inwardly into the path of said cow; and means operatively interconnecting said bar and valve whereby physical impact on said bar will actuate said valve and energize said spray nozzles, said means including lost motion means permitting continued travel of said bar after said valve is actuated.

2. A cow washing device, comprising: a tubular frame forming a passageway for cows; multiple spray elements in said frame directed at normally filth-encrusted parts of said cows; a main water inlet pipe; a valve in said inlet pipe; a pivotally mounted arm on said frame extending into said passageway adapted to be impacted by said cows; and connecting means between said arm and said valve whereby said valve will be opened upon physical impact with said arm and closed upon release thereof, said connecting means including lost motion means for permitting continued opening movement of said arm after said valve reaches its open position.

3. A cow washing device, comprising: a tubular frame forming a passageway for cows; multiple spray elements in said frame directed at normally filth-encrusted parts of said cow; a main water inlet pipe; a valve in said inlet pipe; an arm pivotally mounted on said frame extending at an angle into said passageway to be impacted by vsaid cow; and a compression spring interposed between said arm and said valve for transmitting initial pivotal movement of said arm to said valve to effect opening thereof and to thereafter permit continued movement of said arm without further operation of said valve, whereby water is caused to be sprayed on said cow in response to initial movement of said arm.

4. A cow washing device according to claim 3 wherein said arm is initially disposed at an acute angle to the direction of movement of said cows through said passageway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,505,641 Hendrickson Aug. 19, 1924 1,556,935 Hixson Oct. 13, 1925 1,767,560 Snyder June 24, 1930 2,684,658 Richardson et al. July 27, 1954 2,900,957 Peterson Aug. 25, 1959 

1. A COW WASHING DEVICE, COMPRISING: A FRAME INCLUDING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL PIPE ELEMENTS IN SPACED RELATION AND CONNECTED BY AN OVERHEAD TUBE; MULTIPLE SPRAY NOZZLES IN SAID PIPE ELEMENTS DIRECTED AT VARIOUS PARTS OF COW PASSING THERETHROUGH; A MAIN WATER INLET PIPE CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME; A VALVE IN SAID INLET PIPE; A BAR NORMALLY EXTENDING INWARDLY INTO THE PATH OF SAID COW; AND MEANS OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTING SAID BAR AND VALVE WHEREBY PHYSICAL IMPACT ON SAID BAR WILL ACTUATE SAID VALVE AND ENERGIZE SAID SPRAY NOZZLES, SAID MEANS INCLUDING LOST MOTION MEANS PERMITTING CONTINUED TRAVEL OF SAID BAR AFTER SAID VALVE IS ACTUATED. 